anyone which

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "anyone which" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct term would be "anyone who" when referring to people. Example: "Anyone who wants to join the club is welcome to attend the meeting."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If your neighbor is harassing anyone, which I doubt, it's the poor police dispatcher.

The New York Times

"I am sorry if it offended anyone which it seems it did.

The Guardian - Sport

Distefano understands better than anyone which theories make sense and which do not.

The New York Times - Sports

They describe an effort to round up anyone, which sent many other innocent people to prison.

The New York Times

He doesn't bow down to anyone which is what I like.

The Guardian - Sport

She didn't feel able to discuss the issue with anyone, which made borrowing money impossible.

The Guardian

Ben could be anyone, which occasionally is the same as saying he's not really anybody in particular.

The Guardian - Books

I can find the goodness in anyone, which is why I was able to write puff pieces on movie stars".

The New York Times

Caleana is such an empowered and strong female character, who doesn't take orders from anyone, which some YA books lack.

The Guardian

John Demjanjuk's son has told the US press that his father never killed anyone, which may well be true.

The Guardian - Opinion

Instead, he insists, they must be fought — by anyone (which should be everyone) who believes in the open society.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to people, always use "who" or "that" instead of "which". Using "which" is grammatically incorrect and can confuse your readers.

Common error

Avoid using "which" to refer to people. "Which" is typically used for objects, animals, or concepts. Always use "who" or "that" when referring to a person or people.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "anyone which" functions as a relative clause aiming to provide additional information about "anyone". However, it's grammatically incorrect because "which" is generally used for inanimate objects or animals, not people. Ludwig flags this as an incorrect construction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Wiki

9%

Science

34%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "anyone which" appears frequently across various sources, including news and media outlets, it is essential to recognize that this construction is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, the relative pronoun "which" is not appropriate for referring to people; instead, use "who" or "that". Therefore, opting for alternatives like ""anyone who"" or "anyone that" ensures grammatical correctness and clarity in your writing. Despite its prevalence, adhering to proper grammar enhances the credibility and professionalism of your communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

anyone who

Replaces "which" with the correct relative pronoun "who" for referring to people, maintaining the same meaning but adhering to standard grammar.

anyone that

Uses "that" as a relative pronoun, a grammatically acceptable alternative to "who".

anybody who

Informal equivalent of "anyone who", suitable for casual contexts.

any person who

More formal alternative, emphasizing the individual nature of the subject.

every person who

Emphasizes inclusivity; every single person that falls under the specified condition.

all those who

Highlights a group of people sharing a particular characteristic or condition.

someone who

Refers to a specific, though unidentified, person.

people who

Directly refers to a group of individuals.

whoever

Implies that the identity of the person is irrelevant or unknown.

those individuals who

Formal and specific, highlighting particular people meeting certain criteria.

FAQs

Is it correct to use "which" when referring to people?

No, it is generally considered incorrect to use "which" when referring to people. The correct relative pronouns to use are "who" or "that". For example, use "anyone who" or "anyone that" instead of "anyone which".

What's the difference between "anyone who" and "anyone which"?

"Anyone who" is grammatically correct and refers to people, while "anyone which" is grammatically incorrect. Use "who" for people and "which" for things. Consider using "anyone who" to ensure correctness.

What can I say instead of "anyone which"?

You can use alternatives like ""anyone who"", "anybody who", or "anyone that" depending on the context.

When should I use "who" instead of "which"?

Use "who" when referring to people or animals with names. "Which" is used for inanimate objects, animals without names, or to add nonessential information. Always use "anyone who" if you mean a person.